MANKATO CITY OFFICIALS AND THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ARE INVESTIGATING AFTER A RASH OF PEOPLE BECAME SICK FOLLOWING EVENTS AT THE CIVIC CENTER.

GREATER MANKATO GROWTH HELD A DINNER AT THE VENUE LAST WEEK WITH APPROXIMATELY 450 PEOPLE ATTENDING. A FEW DAYS LATER, ABOUT 50 OF THOSE PEOPLE REPORTED FEELING ILL WITH A VARIETY OF GASTROINTESTINAL SYMPTOMS.

IT IS NOT OFFICIALLY KNOWN YET WHETHER THE ILLNESSES AND THE EVENT ARE CONNECTED. THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH INSPECTED THE FACILITY, WHICH OFFICIALS SAY HAS BEEN THOROUGHLY CLEANED.